June 28, 2015

Since the mobile adventure-runner Lara Croft Relic Run was released about a month ago, it's become quite an obsession for a lot of Tomb Raider fans. Perhaps you've seen the fan videos and ragdoll-death screenshots on social media or heard friends talking about cursing each other through the Facebook link in the game. But if your phone or tablet won't run the game, you're probably feeling left out. Fear not, thanks to the awesome Android emulator, BlueStacks, you too can enter the world of Lara Croft Relic Run and say goodbye to your free time!

Installing Relic Run on a Windows PC or Macintosh using BlueStacks is not complicated, but in case you need a little hand-holding, the video below includes step-by-step instructions. It covers the Windows version. The Mac installation is very similar.

BlueStacks legal to use (for free apps like Relic Run or apps you have legally purchased) and allows for in-app purchases through the Play Store; however, it is not officially supported, so there may be some bugs or compatibility issues when playing. I have not personally experienced any issues.

Note that BlueStacks will ask you to create or log into an existing Google account in order to download the game from the Play Store. This step was not included in the video because I already happend to be logged in. You may also need to add Bluestacks to the exclusions list in your anti-virus/malware program in order to log in to Google through Bluestacks.

June 18, 2015

This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo has come to a close. Rise of the Tomb Raider and Lara Croft GO both received some nice press coverage, including several best-of-show awards for Rise.

Here are links to videos of various live presentations and developer interviews, plus reports from a few of the Tomb Raider E3 community ambassadors, so those of us who weren't able to attend can stay in the loop.

I'd love to hear what you think about the upcoming games, the franchise's showing at E3, or whatever's on your mind Tomb Raider-wise. Please leave a comment below or get in touch by email or social media.

With most of the attention focused on the big Rise of the Tomb Raider gameplay reveal on the Microsoft stage this week at E3, this little gem may have flown in under the radar. Lara Croft GO, a turn-based puzzle game for mobile devices, is being developed by Square Enix Montréal, the team responsible for the critically acclaimed Hitman GO and the upcoming Hitman Sniper.

In case you missed today's Xbox briefing at E3, Crystal Dynamics presented the first Rise of the Tomb Raider gameplay demo and announced that the game will be released November 10. Watch the stage demo and highlights below, and check the official Tomb Raider Blog for the rest of this week's E3 schedule.

UPDATE: At a friend's request, I've attempted to transcribe the dialogue in the second video for people who want to translate from English to other languages.

0:30 – Jonah: Wait til you see this view, Lara.
0:45 – Jonah: Uhhh. I guess if I was gonna hide a lost city, this might be the kind of god-forsaken place that I'd do it. Storm's getting closer. We have a couple hours at most.
0:59 – Lara: Should be enough time. We're almost to the top.
1:07 – Jonah: What do you think?
1:09 – Lara: We're close to something, Jonah. I can feel it. Just this last stretch to the top.
1:15 – Jonah: All right. Let's see what's up there.
1:27 – Lara: Looks like we climb from here.
1:29 – Jonah: Keep your eyes open for falling ice.
1:31 – Lara: Right. You ready?
1:34 – Jonah: Let's do it!
1:40 – Jonah: There's lots of loose ice up here.
1:43 – Lara: Let's take it slow and steady. Just stay with me.
1:48 – Jonah: Look out!
1:50 – Lara: Hold on!
1:52 – Jonah: I'm going to dig in. Can you make it across?
1:55 – Lara: I can make it! Aaaah!
1:57 – Jonah: Whoah! Holy shit! I don't think I can make that jump.
2:02 – Lara: Stay there. I'll anchor a line for you at the top.
2:11 – Jonah: Almost there, Lara. You got it.
2:36 – Lara: Jonah, we made it. I see the ruins.... Oh, God.
[Some yelling and grunting in here. If there are actual words, I can't make them out.]
2:50 – Jonah: Oh, shit! I got you. I got you. Lara! Can you hear me?
2:58 – Lara: Yeah.
3:00 – Jonah: I'm gonna pull you back up. Fuck! Fuck!
3:05 – Lara: There! Over there! Quick! Swing me to the other side!
3:13 – Jonah: OK. Here goes.
3:25 – Jonah: Lara! I can't hold you! The rope is slipping! Climb! Climb!
3:39 – Jonah: Oh, shit! Move, God damn it!
3:43 – Lara: Go back, Jonah! Get to shelter!
5:21 – Lara: Something else dwells in the darkness of this place, but I've got to continue. I finally feel a sense of purpose again. Like I'm doing what I was meant to do.
5:40 – Lara: Some kind of marker....
5:46 – Lara: The journey will be perilous, but I must find a way.
5:53 – [Lara yells something I can't make out.]
6:03 – Incredible! This is it.

June 6, 2015

E3, the gaming event of the year, is almost upon us, and Crystal Dynamics has kicked things off by releasing a new Rise of the Tomb Raider trailer. They've also posted their show schedule. I've listed the main points below, but be sure to check the Official Tomb Raider Blog and the Square Enix Forums for updates in case any of this changes.

Crystal has also revived the E3 Ambassador Program first launched in 2012. A group of fansite webmasters from around the world will attend the expo as representatives of the fan community. They'll be bringing us news from the convention floor and sharing their impressions, as well as presenting our questions to the developers. You can contact the individual ambassadors directly or post questions on this forum thread.

TOMB RAIDER E3 HIGHLIGHTS

Xbox E3 2015 Briefing: Monday, June 15, 9:30 A.M. PDT - This event will be streamed live on Xbox.com and on the Xbox Live Events Player on Xbox One or Xbox 360 consoles globally, as well as on Spike TV in the U.S. and Canada.

Xbox Daily - Live @E3: Tuesday, June 16, 4:00 P.M. PDT - Rise of the Tomb Raider will be featured on Xbox's daily presentation on Tuesday. Again, you can watch on your Xbox console or on Xbox.com.

Square Enix Presents: Square will be holding 30-minute Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft: Relic Run, and Tomb Raider community interviews during its annual show-floor production. Participate via Twitter and watch on Twitch or YouTube. Here's a list of these mini-events:

Tuesday, June 16, 1:30 P.M. PDT: Tomb Raider Community Interview

Wednesday, June 17, 11:00 A.M. PDT: Lara Croft: Relic Run Interview

Wednesday, June 17, 3:00 P.M. PDT: Rise of the Tomb Raider Interview

Again, be sure to follow the official Tomb Raider social media for additional info and schedule updates. I will be taking the day off from work on Monday the 15th and livetweeting the Xbox briefing. So follow me if you want to chat. To convert Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) to your local time, try World Time Buddy.

The box art for Rise of the Tomb Raider was also unveiled this week. Click image to enlarge.

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